Civil society Organisations and opposition parties have condemned the attacks on Chief Ndiweni by suspected ZANU PF and Central Intelligence Officers on Wednesday.
Chief Ndiweni has already filed a report with the police.
Matabeleland Collective, a grouping of 66 civil society organisations in the region said that it was deeply by the attacks on the chief. The group’s spokesperson Michael Ndiweni said:
The Matabeleland Collective is deeply concerned about the attacks on Chief Ndiweni that threatens his safety and security and calls upon relevant security sectors to ensure that his safety is guaranteed.
We call upon authorities to also ensure that his right to freedom of expression is protected as espoused in the Constitution.
The Collective believes every citizen has a right to express themselves in line with constitutional provisions of freedom of expression, without undue interferences.
MDC provincial spokesperson, Swithern Chirowodza told the Daily News that the attacks on Ndiweni showed that Zanu PF looked down upon the people of Matabeleland.
ZAPU which is led by Dumiso Dabengwa said that the attack shows ZANU PS’s lack of tolerance to criticism. The party spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa also said that ZANU PF uses nepotism and patronage to control traditional leaders. Maphosa also said:
The Ndiweni chieftainship has given government headaches because he does not need to sing for his supper. He has taken the fight to the establishment without fear and in the process earned the affection and respect of his people.
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